Most bands release records. Maximum the Hormone has released a record inside a manga, and once opened a second branch of itself. The person behind both ideas is the guitarist.
Vocals, Six Strings and Little Brother
That is his official credit: 歌と6弦と弟. Maximum the Ryo-kun, born Ryo Kawakita on 13 December 1978, is the younger brother of the band’s drummer, Nao. The band formed in Hachioji, Tokyo, in 1997. He joined in 1999, along with bassist Ue-chan, and has written most of the lyrics and music since.
The Records
ぶっ生き返す came out on 14 March 2007. In the same year two of its songs were used by the anime Death Note: “What’s up, people?!” as an opening theme and “絶望ビリー” as an ending. The album has kept selling ever since. In January 2026 it was announced that it had been certified double platinum in Japan, almost nineteen years after release.
予襲復讐 followed on 31 July 2013. It was the band’s first number one on the Oricon chart and stayed there for three weeks. It came packaged with a booklet of commentary on the songs, some of it drawn as manga.
The Formats
That booklet was a sign of what was coming. On 28 November 2018 the band released これからの麺カタコッテリの話をしよう as a manga volume with a CD attached, sold as a book.
In 2019 came the franchise. Ryo-kun announced a second branch of the band, held auditions that drew about a thousand applicants, and chose five people. The result, named コロナナモレモモ, was based in Tochigi, played only Maximum the Hormone songs, and ran until 2024.
It is tempting to file these under jokes. They are also serious answers to a real question, which is what a band should sell when a song is a click away.
Still at It
The single “恋のアメリカ” arrived on 29 July 2023. In November 2025 the band brought back its own event, 地獄絵図, for the first time in fifteen years. A run of co-headline shows under the name ザ・ホルモネア was announced for November and December 2026.
Start with ぶっ生き返す. Then find a copy of 予襲復讐 with the booklet, and read it while you listen.
